Perforate ironing table top



Feb. 2l, 1950 R. w. NELSON ET AL PERFORATE IRONING TABLE TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 27, 1948 t Feb 21, 1950 R. w. NELSON Er AL 2,498,176

PERFORATE IRONING TABLE TOP @MIMIIll un... \||"D Patented Feb. 21, 1950 UNITED 'STATES PATENT oFFlcE PEBFORATE IBONING TABLE TOP Robert W. Nelson and Harold L. McAtee, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application February 27, 1948, Serial No. 11,514

(c1. :is- 137) tween the perforate metal top and the metal frame in which it is mounted (the perforate top is subject to the direct heat from a sadiron which it supports), buckling of the perforate top with -respect to the frame is a well recognized problem.

This problem is recognized in Patent No. 2,276,981, wherein the patentee secures a perforate metal top to a plurality of longitudinallyextended laterally-spaced frame members, the upper surfaces of which form a crown. However, not only is such a frame expensive to construct, but, also, the resulting crown in the table top is undesirable.

The primary object of our invention is the provision of a perforate ironing table top which is capable of being constructed with a cross-sectionally flat surface and which will not buckle when subjected to heat.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a perforate ironing'table `top which may be inexpensively produced, which is light in weight, rigid in construction, and durable in use.

The above and still further objects of our invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

` Referring to the drawings. wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a supplementary frame member utilized at one end of our improved table top;l

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the supplementary brace member used at the opposite end of our table top; and

Fig. 8 is a view in plan illustrating a modified form of frame structure used in our invention.

Referring with greater particularity to the` drawings and more particularly to the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-7 inclusive, the numeral I indicates, in its entirety, a framework comprising a pair of laterally-spaced longitudinally-extended frame members 2 and 3 respectively. Preferably, and as shown, members 2 and 3 are parallel to each other for the greater part of their length and are bent as at 4 to provide inwardly-tapering end portions 5 and 6 respectively. The members 2 and 3 are preferably made from angleiron or the like and are connected at spaced intervals b y longitudinallyspaced frame members or cross bars 'l and 8. The cross bars I are generally inverted U-shaped in cross section, and the cross bars 8 are angular in cross section (see particularly Figs. 3, 4, and 5). The ends 9 of the cross bars 'I and 8 are depressed substantially the thickness of the material of the frame members 2 and 3. Therefore, when secured by welding I0 or the like to the opposing flanged edges II of the side frame members 2 and 3, the intermediate upper surfaces I2 of the cross frame members I and 8 will lie in the plane of the opposing flanges II.

Onto the level area, formed by flanged edges II of the side frame members 2 and 3 and the surfaces I2 of the transverse members 'I and 8, a perforate metallic top I3 is placed. The top I3 may be formed in any one of a number of ways, but, preferably and as shown, is formed from expanded metal having substantially diamondshaped apertures, with the long dimension of the diamonds preferably extending lengthwise of the top I3. The top I3 is preferably of slightly less width than the frame member I, but extends forwardly thereof to form an overhanging rounded front end I4 and rearwardly thereof to form an overhanging rear end portion I5, all as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 3. Adjacent its longitudinal center, perforate top I3 is secured to the intermediate portion of underlying transverse supporting frame members 1 and I by means of spot welding or the like, as indicated at Il. It is important'to, note that the outer side edge portions of the top Il are not secured to the underlying frame member I in any manner. but are allowed to lie freely thereon so as to be free for expansion and contraction.

In order to support the ends Il and Il of the top Il and to,also'conceal the rough side edges of the top I3, we preferably provide an endless marginal frame I1, which is channel-shaped in cross section and shaped to conform to the outline of the top I3. The marginal frame I1 is preferably made up of two frame sections I3 and I3, which are butt welded or otherwise secured to each other at the extreme ends of the table top, as indicated at 20 and 2 I, and are spot welded along their side edges to the frame members 2 and l. In order to support the overlying ends Il and I5 against sagging. I preferably insert the supplementary frame members 22 and 23, illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7 respectively. in the rear and front ends of the marginal frame I'I, as indicated particularly in Figs. 2 and 5. This construction leaves the entire edge of the perforate top I3 free for expansive and contrastive movements independent of the base frame I and the marginal frame I1. However, good results may also be achieved by spot welding the front and rear ends I4 and I5 to the marginal frame at points indicated by the numerals 24 and 25, thus obviating the necessity of utilizing supplementary frame members 22 and 23. It is important to note that, in either event, side edges of the perforate top I3 are left completely free for expansive and contractive movements independent of any supporting structure.

As shown, the transverse frame members 'l are provided with any desirable number of depending ears 26 to facilitate -attachment of a suitable supporting leg structure.

The modified form shown in Fig. 8 is identical to that shown in Figs. 1-7 inclusive with the exception that the side frame members indicated by the numerals 2' and 3' extend at their ends about the entire periphery of the table top I3 so as to completely underlie the side edges of the perfor-ate top I3. When a base frame structure of this type is enclosed within the marginal frame Il, it is not necessary or desirable to weld or otherwise secure the side edges of the perforated table top I3 to any portion thereof. In this structure, the supplementary frame members 22 and 23 are formed integrally with the side frame members 2 and 3.

While we have shown a, preferred and a modied form of the invention, it should be obvious that the same is capable of still further changes and modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. An ironing table top comprising a base fram made up of a pair of longitudinally-extended laterally-spaced side members and a plurality of longitudinally-spaced transverse connecting members, and a. perforate top overlying said base frame member and secured only to the intermediate portions of said transverse members, whereby the marginal edges of said perforate top are left free for expansion and contraction.

2. The structure dennedin claim 1 in further combination with a marginal frame surrounding the side edges of said base frame, said marginal frame having an angular portion loosely overlying the marginal edges of said perforate top.

3. An ironing table top comprising a base frame made up of a pair of longitudinally-extended laterally-spaced side members and a plurality of longitudinally-spaced transverse connecting members, said side members being parallel to each other for the greater .part of their length and having inwardly tapering front ends, an expanded metal top overlying said base frame and secured only to the intermediate portions of said transverse members, and a continuous marginal frame extending around the side edges of said base frame and expanded metal top and conforming to the shape thereof. said marginal frame being rigidly secured to the side members of the base frame and having an angular portion loosely overlying the edge of said metal top, whereby the marginal edges of said perforate top are left free for expansion and contraction.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 in which said marginal frame member is channel-shaped in cross-section and encompasses the side edges of the base frame and top within its crosssectional area.

5. An ironing table top comprising a base frame made up of a pair of longitudinally-extended laterally-spaced side members and a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse connecting members, a perforate metal top overlying said base frame and conforming substantially to the shape thereof, an endless cross-sectionally channel-shaped marginal frame around the edges of said base frame and overlying the edges of the perforate top and conforming substantially to the shape thereof, said perforate top being secured to the intermediate portions of the transverse frame members, whereby the edges of said top are left free for movements of expansion and contraction with respect to said base frame and said marginal frame.

6. The structure deiined in claim 5 in which said base frame is rigidly secured to said marginal frame independent of said perforate top.

7. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with a marginal frame surrounding the side edges of said base frame and the peripheral edge of said perforate top and having an angular portion overlying the marginal edges of said perforate top, said perforate top being rigidly secured at its opposite ends to said marginalv frame but being independent thereof along its lateral edges.

ROBERT W. NELSON. HAROLD L. MCATEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the i'lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,038,637 Brey Apr. 28, 1936 2,276,981 John Mar. l'l', 1942 2,291,614 Fay Aug. 4, 1942 

